Device for preventing refilling bottles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID LIPPY AND DAVID L. ZAHNISER, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING REFILLING BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,189, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed November 21, 1895. gerial No. 569,697. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, DAVID LIPPY and DA- v11) L. ZAHNISER,CitiZeI1S of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Preventing Refilling Bottles; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in devices for preventing the refilling of bottles; and the objects of our invention are, first, to provide a means whereby it would be impossible to refill a bottle after it has once been filled and discharged; second,to so construct the bottle that there are two reinforced parts upon the neck of the same, forming in appearance a double neck; third, to so construct the neck of the bottle that the upper portion of the neck can be readily broken away without damaging the body of the bottle; fourth, to place above the lower cork a metal plug to prevent the withdrawal of the cork without breaking the upper portion of the neck, making it impossible to refill without using a mutilated bottle, and, fifth, to make a cheap, durable, and eflicient means for the purpose stated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the neck of a bottle with portion of the body broken away, embodying all of our improvements. Fig. 2 is also a longitudinal sectional view of a bottleneck. The neck is similar in construction to Fig. 1. The stopper is somewhat differently constructed. We show this as a modification of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view in section, constructed somewhat different from Fig. 1, and also shown as a modification. Fig. 4: is

similar in construction to Figs. 1, 2, and 3,

the difference being in the mode of securing the metal plug. Each construction will be thoroughly described hereinafter.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, A indicates the neck of a bottle; 13, the body of the same. The neck may be constructed any length and reinforced in two places by the bead C at the mouth of the same and by the-bead D placed about midway between the mouth and the body of the bottle. The upper edge of the said bead is on a line with the top of the cork E. A small portion of the neck above the bead D is reduced in thickness, as shown at F. The object of the thin portion in the neck is for the purpose of weakening the neck above the lower cork E, so that a slight blow will break away the upper part of the neck when necessary.

- G indicates a metal plug, provided upon its under face with the downwardly-projecting pin H. The said pin fits into a hole formed in the center of the cork E. The object of the said plug is for the purpose of preventing the withdrawal of the cork E without first breaking away the upper portion of the neck of the bottle and removing the metal plug G.

I indicates the upper cork, which is pressed within the upper portion of the neck and has a bearing upon the top of the metal plug G.

J indicates a glass flange formed within the lower end of the neck, which reduces the size of the inlet, and is for the purpose of forming a stop for the cork to prevent the cork from being forced within the bottle. This description fully explains the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 we show as a modification of Fig. 1. The neck is constructed similar to the one described, except the thin portion F answers two purposes: first, to make a weak part in the neck: second, to form a recess for the reception of a lockin g device, which we will now describe. The metal plug G is provided upon its under face with the soft-metal curved bar II in the place of the pin H. It will be readily seen that when the upper cork I is forced downward into the neck of the bottle the curved ends of the metal bar rests upon a metal washer laying upon the top of the lower cork. When the metal plug is forced downward, the loose ends of the bar H is forced into the recess, locking the plug and preventing the withdrawal of the same.

We show Fig. 3 also as a modification. The neck of the bottle is constructed the same as shown in Fig. 1, eXcept at the point marked F The neck is thickened at D and is construeted with a small hole passing the wall of the neck. The object of the said hole is for the purpose of locking the metal plug G This is done by a steel pin E passing through the neck of the bottle into the plug G It will be readily seen by those skilled in the art that when the bottles are sealed, as shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be impossible to remove the lower cork without first mutilating the neck of the bottle. It will be impossible to withdraw the metal plugs even after the upper cork is withdrawn. The length of the upper portion of the neck prevents any instrument from gripping the metal plug. Hence the bottle cannot be reused without using the mutilated body.

Fig. 4 is also shown as a modification. The neck A is the same in construction as Fig. 1. The difference is between the construction of the metal plugs. The plug in Fig. 4 is in the place of the upper cork I. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The metal plug B is constructed with a groove 0 formed one on each side the grooves, extending to within a short distance of the top of the metal stopper, and in which are secured tongue-springs D The said springs are secured at their upper ends to the metal stopper. The lower ends of the same are bent outward to form a hook E After the bottle is filled and corked, the metal stopper is placed within the neck of the bottle and forced downward until the hook ends of the springs pass into the recess formed within the neck of the bottle, making a perfect lock, which cannot be removed without breaking the neck of the bottle.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described improvement, consisting of the bottle-neck of uniform diameter having the annular exterior bends, the interior annular flange forming an abutment at the base of the neck and the annular intermediate channel or groove, the cap or disk fitting in said channel or groove, the upper stopper and the lower stopper resting upon the flange or abutment at the base of the neck.

The bottle neck having the exterior bends, the annular flange or abutment and the intermediate annular groove or channel, the cap or disk fitting in said groove or channel, devices for securing said cap against accidental displacement and an upper and lower stopper bearing upon the annular flange or abutment.

3. The bottle-neck having the intermediate annular groove and the flange or abutment at its base, the lower stopper resting upon said abutment and retained thereby, the upper stopper,and the devices between said stoppers for engaging the annular groove.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID LIPPY. DAVID L. ZAIINISER. \Vitnesses C. II. \VORKMAN, M. SAUNDERS. 

